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SPOTLIGHT 332

13/01/2012 11:34

the Spot Light #332

d.d. Monday, January 16th, 2012

NEW RELEASES

CONTEMPORARY ARTISTS

LULL & BETA CLOUD/ANDREW LILES - CIRCADIAN RHYTHM DISTURBANCE RECONFIGURED (CD/COLD SPRING) From England to the United States and back again... it all started as a simple drone project between Lull (a.k.a. Mick Harris of Scorn, ex-Napalm Death), and Beta Cloud (a.k.a. Carl Pace), based on the concept of how insomnia can effect your thought patterns. Billows of powerful bass drones set to indistinct flourishes of temporary insanity, it was released as a limited 3" CD in 2008. Now, available as a deluxe digipak edition, the original track is there. And that's not all. Also included is a fierce remix track by none other than legendary sound artist Andrew Liles (Nurse With Wound). A captivating listen for dark ambient and harsh noise fans alike.

KREUZWEG OST - GOTT MIT UNS (CD/COLD SPRING) Their second album for Cold Spring. This is a monumental work which combines a number of musical styles, f.i. martial industrial, neo-classical, ambient and cinematic... The fans will be delighted.

CURLEE WURLEE! - MARRIED MEN (7"/BUTTERFLY) A lovely 7" EP that combines two previously unreleased tracks with 'Married Man', taken off their album 'Curlee Wurlee Likes Milk'. Together that's three slices of great '60s inspired punk beat! Limited to 500 copies.

PUSRAD - SMARTTRAMS (7"/JUST 4 FUN) Pusrad's line-up features two members of Sweden's hc punk outfit Raped Teenagers. And they don't hide it, since the bandname Pusrad refers to a song by the Raped Teenagers. This however is a brand new start. They still play hardcore, but at the same time the band tries to avoid the genre's cliché trappings. Only 300 copies, pressed on yellow vinyl.

60’s & 70’s & 80’s (RE-)RELEASES AND ARTISTS + OTHER OLDIES

GEARS - ROCKIN' AT GROUND ZERO (CD/BACCHUS ARCHIVES) A CD-reissue of a legendary 1980 album from the final days of the original Los Angeles punk rock explosion of '77-'80. The Gears played deliciously simple, melodic and urgent rock 'n roll with the slightest rockabilly and surf influence! Also includes their ultra-rare three-track EP from 1979. New, improved punk rock cover art!

DAKOTA - RUNAWAY (CD/BELLA TERRA) For fans of American high tech AOR music this is a very welcome reissue. Dakota's second album, this one, is known as their finest work, due to the solid song writing, amazing arrangements and great voices. Indeed, 'Runaway' is a real classic for genre freaks.

EXPECTED RELEASES

CONTEMPORARY ARTISTS

BLACK PYRAMID - (2LP/HEADSPIN) Known for its dynamic sound, that blending towering riffs with magnetic psychedelic rock, Black Pyramid has been turning heads in the underground music world since its formation in late 2007. 'Black Pyramid II', here released on black and coloured vinyl (limited editions) contains the band's most ambitious material to date. Nine tracks.

MARK FRY & THE A. LORDS - I LIVED IN TREES (LP/GOLDEN PAVILION) Due to his masterpiece 'Dreaming With Alice', Mark Fry is a cult hero amongst aficionados of late '60s and '70s hippie folk. This is an album of contemporary chamber folk delight, on which Mark is backed by the A. Lords. Exquisite stuff! Limited to 500 copies, pressed on 180 gram vinyl.

LONDON - REBOOT (CD/BIN LINER) The previous release of London, 'Animal Games', was recorded in 1977. Now, 35 years later, theyre' back! 'Reboot' features ten brand new tracks, including a stunning version of The Eyes' mod classic 'When The Night Falls'. Their trademark hooks and adrenalin-filled tight playing are still present and as impressive as in the old days.

LOOP - LOST WEEKEND (CD/PAISLEY) Hailing from a little village in Cambridgeshire, UK, this garage rock trio has been on the scene for a few years now. In fact this is their fourth album, the previous ones have been released on their own label. If you're into well crafted songs with plenty of attitude and power, then The Loop are for you!

YAIR YONA - WORLD BEHIND CURTAINS (LP-CD/STRANGE ATTRACTORS AUDIO HOUSE) Anchored by chiming steel string guitar, 'World Behind Curtains' marks the ascendance of Israel's Yair Yona from solo steel string acolyte into master arranger, pulling the post-Takoma school of playing along with him into beautifully festooned cathedrals of sound. His exuberant attack on the acoustic guitar can be aggressive and ripe with punk rock muscle, only to return with graceful finger style caresses. Each of the eight compositions sparkle with multi-instrumental colour, alternating between full string arrangements, piano, horns, chimes and splashes of electric guitars.

GENITAL HOSPITAL - EYES FULL OF TERROR (LP/P.TRASH) This LP is great, from start to finish, no week spots. Each of the twelve songs is a hit! It's excellent garage punk, with trashy guitars and a pumping, ongoing best. Psych-country-garage-punk for fans of Black Lips, early Damned, and everything in between.

IRRITONES - PENIS ROMANTIQUE (LP/P.TRASH) The second album by this French combo offers more of their dadaist 'Haiku-Punk'. A celebration of hedonistic primitivism packed into ten melodic and stripped-down minimalistic songs with driving bass lines, minimal guitar work and Olivier's very own sick poetry Franglais.

AUGRIMMER - NOTHING EVER WAS (CD/NORTHERN SILENCE) On their second full length Augrimmer continue where they left off with their phenomenal debut. However, they do expand on the classic metal influence in terms of elaborate guitar solos and even the occasional clean vocals. All in all, the song writing has become more diverse, which gives the album a slightly more complex and '80s like feel. Nine tracks.

BELENOS - SPICILEGE (CD/NORTHERN SILENCE) Reissue of what many fans claim to be their best work. The album was meticulously remastered, resulting in a much more powerful sound, while preserving the feeling and atmosphere of the original recording. Includes seven bonus tracks!

RITUALS OF THE OAK - COME TASTE THE DOOM (CD/EYES LIKE SNOW) On their second full length the Australian doomsters continue where they left off with their magnificent debut. This album contains five tracks of epic. melancholic doom, crowned by the warm, powerful voice of Sabine Hamad, which gives their heavy, mournful sound its unique flavour.

VINUM SABBATUM - SONGS FROM THE CONVENT (CD/EYES LIKE SNOW) This reissue of the band's self-released debut-EP features re-recorded and improved versions of all the original tracks, along with two brand new songs and new artwork. The band plays traditional doom metal with influences from '60s and '70s prog and psych rock. Suitable for fans of Witchcraft, Burning Saviours, Graveyard, Pentagram, etc. Limited edition in a very nice digipack.

60’s & 70’s & 80’s (RE-)RELEASES AND ARTISTS + OTHER OLDIES

MAD RIVER - JERSEY SLOO (12"+BOOK/SHAGRAT RECORDS) Mad River formed at Antioch College, Yellow Springs, Ohio in 1965. Inspired by the developments in San Francisco they moved to Berkeley in early 1967, just in time for the Summer of Love. During their brief time together they released a now highly-sought-after 7" EP and two albums for Capitol Records. 'Jersey Sloo' includes a 36-page soft-cover book and a 12" EP (pressed on 180 gram vinyl) featuring previously unissued music by the band. Limited to 500 copies, this is an essential release for the many Mad River fans.

GRUESOMES - TYRANTS OF TEEN TRASH (LP/GROOVIE RECORDS) Now, after more than 25 years, Groovie Records takes 'Tyrants Of Teen Trash', out of the box again. These 13 timeless bits of hippie-esque, twangy and slightly gritty rock'n'roll is still as upbeat and catchy as ever. The Gruesomes have been Canada's premiere trash/garage rock quartet for well over two decades, and this release once more makes clear why. Limited hand numbered edition, including a full size colour poster of the band.

BLUES RIGHT OFF - OUR BLUES BAG (LP/GOLDEN PAVILION) A cool reissue of an impossibly rare Italian blues rock LP from the 1970s. The band was formed in Venice around the highly talented Danish guitarist Claes Cornelius. All tracks are sung in English, in the best blues tradition, with a high pitched-voice and accompanied by noteworthy electric guitar solos. Limited edition of 500 copies on 180 gram vinyl.

EDITION SPECIALE - ALLEE DES TILLEULS (LP/GOLDEN PAVILION) This is an album of female fronted jazz-rock fusion, bridging swift funk grooves and heavy progressive sounds with lots of vibrant scorching guitar, exciting drum breaks and swirly complex keyboard solos. The powerful vocals by Ann Ballester and virtuoso playing from all band members are impressive. Recommended to fans of Mahavishnu Orchestra, Brand X, Gong, mid-period Soft Machine or Return To Forever. On 180 gram vinyl, limited to 500 copies.

SELECTED PRESS QUOTES

CONTEMPORARY ARTISTS

ELECTRIC MOON - THE DOOMSDAY MACHINE (CD-LP/NASONI)reviewed by Patrick Erregat for RockTribune (translated excerpt) A totally freaked-out German trio that feed on acid and valium pills... Those who get high on White Hills, Farflung or Colour Haze will be able to cope with this trip. reviewed by Storm for FileUnder (translated excerpt) 80 minutes filled with five tracks that'll make your hair fly around.

SAMSARA BLUES EXPERIMENT - REVELATION & MYSTERY (CD-LP/WORLD IN SOUND)reviewed by Paul van de Gehuchte for RockTribune (translated excerpt) The group strongly leans towards a retro feel, which brings the listener back to the sixties and seventies, when hardrock was fully developing. On 'Revelation And Mystery' they have chosen to emphasize their experimental character.

JAKOB OLAUSSON - MORNING AND SUNRISE (LP/DE STIJL)reviewed by Gerald van Waes for Psyche van het Folk (excerpt) This new album is different from the previous album, and fits perfectly with the label's perspective. reviewed by Storm for FileUnder (translated excerpt) Olausson strikes me as someone who makes music strictly for himself and who doesn't care about what others think of it. And that's his right.